October 2, 2006

MADD Canada and GM Canada take new show
Mind Control on cross-country tour of high-schools  

High school students in Vancouver today got an opportunity in western Canada to experience MADD Canada’s new big-screen, multi-media assembly show -- Mind Control -- on the realities of drinking and taking drugs and driving. The Vancouver premiere officially starts the western leg of a cross-country tour arranged and sponsored by MADD Canada and General Motors of Canada that will have the production viewed by as many as 600,000 students in the next eight months.

For Mothers Against Drunk Driving, young Canadians and alcohol, drugs and driving – is a disturbing mixture with potential tragedies that is 100% preventable. 

Canadian statistics for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving are alarming:  One in every eight deaths and injuries in road crashes is a teenager. Tragically, road crashes are the number one cause of death of youth age 15 to 19 in Canada. Young drivers (25 years of age and under) are over-represented in road crashes due to inexperience, immaturity and the fact that two out of five teens who are killed on the road have been drinking.  Male drivers account for 87% of teen impaired driving deaths and 89% of injuries, while girls are more likely to be killed or injured as passengers.

Andrew Murie, MADD Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, expresses his concern with the realities of young drivers and alcohol- and drug-crashes. “Our organization wants to impact these trends and reduce the number of young drivers who are involved in impaired driving incidents. That is why we’re producing powerful multi-media assembly shows and why MADD Canada and General Motors are taking our impaired driving message directly into high schools.”

“Mind Control speaks directly to young people, in their own language, and with music and video clips that re-enforce a positive, responsible message about good driving behaviour,” says Mr. Murie.

General Motors of Canada taking MADD Canada on the road

Mr. Murie also thanks GM Canada for making the show’s tour a reality. “The support of General Motors of Canada gives us the chance to show this production to more young Canadians than ever before. We hope this year to have more than 600,000 students view Mind Control and our partnership with GM is making this tour happen.”

Jerry Daniel, BC Zone Manager - General Motors of Canada said: “MADD Canada’s work educating youth and saving lives is very important.  GM Canada is proud to be supporting MADD Canada’s efforts. While manufacturers can develop technologies that help save lives, the work of MADD Canada is important in changing people’s behaviour.”

“We’re also very proud of being part of the tour of this year’s Mind Control,” says Mr. Daniel. “We believe the production will provide the next generation of drivers with the information they need to make sound choices.” 

Tour information available on-line

MADD Canada and General Motors of Canada are taking Mind Control on tour to high schools across Canada beginning immediately.  For more information about the tour, the assembly show, and how to book the production, visit MADD Canada’s website – www.madd.ca.

For an on-line preview of Mind Control in Real format visit www.madd.ca.

MADD Canada is the country’s preeminent voice for impaired driving victims.  The organization is a grassroots, volunteer driven group that is active in over 80 communities across Canada. Over 750,000 Canadians support through their annual donations MADD Canada’s mission to stop impaired driving and to support the victims of this violent crime.

Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs more than 20,000 people nationwide.  GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through 759 dealerships and retailers across Canada.  Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac.  GM plays an active role in communities across the country with programs like GM Community Wheels, which offers a turnkey solution to the transportation needs of community agencies by providing them with GM vehicles; Saturn Kidspace is another program that assists communities in need of safe places for children to play.  To date, more than 300 playgrounds have been built as part of this initiative.

For further information visit www.madd.ca, or call:

Wanda Kristensen, MADD Canada’s Director of Programs
1-800-665-6233, ext. 229
Cell  (905) 330-4632

Diane Lehman, GM Canada’s Community Relations
(905) 644-3883

Also see:

Background on ‘Provocative’ Mind Control